The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-04-06

The frequent exposures of defalca-
tons and betrayals of trust generally
give stock-gambling as the cause, but
there are few instances in which the
defaulter has not lived extravagantly
at his home. The effort to make dis
play OF wealth in private and public
l'fe In this country is unprecedented.
Its possession, no difference how OBJ
tanned, is at once made the occasion to
indulge in habits of extravaganza and
display. 1t is not confined to officials,
but Is more especially noticeable in
private life. A man accumulates wealth
In some honorable employment after
years OF hard toll and rigid economy,
and he or his family are at once seized
with the ambition to endeavor to
eclipse their more fortunate neighbors,
whose wealth is not of such recent
date.
We spend money lavishly, foolishly,
and are unpardonably extravagant in
this country. In Europe, Americans
are famous for their fashionable reck-
lessness of expenditure. They spend a
dollar where an Englishman, L rench-
man, or German, with more money,
would spend ten cents. They value a
thing, not according to its real worth,
but according to the price paid for it,
because this price is fiattering re-
hinder of their ability to pay the bill.
Economy is characterized as meanness,
and to be careless of money is lauded
as commendable generosity.
The consequence is that we have dis
play for displays sake, and the pres
sure of fashionable life and the de-
mands of society drag into ruin and
disgrace many a family who, under
other circumstances, wolld be honest.
Labor and industry cannot compete
in a race of this kind. Diamonds, vel
vets, and gorgeously furnished private
residences can neither be procured nor
maintained by the ordinary and legiti-
mate means of money making.
The only remedy for this is more
simplicity in our mode of life, dress,
and living, and this can only be Sc
cured by the cooperation of those
whose position and wealth is assured
and unquestioned. A rigid ignoring of
this fashionable demand for the exhi-
bition of wealth by those whose tinan-
cial ability and real worth was admit
ted would have q most salutary and
beneficial effect on society. The COM
plant is not altogether against the
poor, or those dishonest, or who sud
denly accumulate wealth, but our mil
lionaires, with money i'll bonds and
banks, have joined in the reckless
style of living.
man does not seek to live within
his income, but is ready to take the
chan ces of some fortunate accident to
supply the deficiency; then come the
pressure of debt, the persistent demand
for money, and the opportunity pre-
scented to procure the money to relieve
the pressure is seized with avidity, and
with moral nature already blunted
and honesty furnished, the road to ruin
and crime is easily entered.
1t is time to call halt. 1t is useless
to longer attempt to cover up the neces-
sity for change in n social life; eX-
travagance has grown on us as people,
SO that from the highest official TO the
humblest citizen the race seems to be
for display. The place TO remedy it is
at the head, and the time to do it is
now. 1t was said in Rome, in her DAYS
of prosperity, by one of her most elo-
quent orators, on the occasion of the
dedication of statue to Roman whose
life had been offensive to the humble
citizens of that republic, that if there
was Roman youth who had courage
enough to behead that statue, he
would be cherished and honored in the
memories of his countrymen. If some
brave man in this country, whose posi-
ton gives him the power, will behead
this vile monster called fashionable
society,"" he will he a hero, with a
prouder distinction than if he had led
an army to triumphant victory. -Amer-
lean CuLtiUdtOr.